The norris pcters co



J. W'. SPRINT.

THILL COUPLING.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 12, 1895.-

INVENTOR- ITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN W. SPRINT, OF BOYCE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO UPTON L. BOYCE, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,423, dated March 12, 1895,

Application filed October 9, 1894- Serial No. 525,403. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. SPRINT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boyce,

in the county of Clarke and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to certain improvements in chill-couplings; and it consists essentially in providing the screwing-nut of the thill-bolt with a hinged top-plate, carrying a spring-latch adapted to lock the bolt against turning and consequent accidental displace ment, as will be hereinafter more fully de-- scribed and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a thill-coupling, which shall be simple and durable of construction and efiective in operation, and which will permit of the easy and rapid removal of the thills, when desired. This object is attained by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

- which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved coupling, showing the thill-bolt locked against accidental removal; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the locking-latch in unlocked position; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section, showing the latch in locked position, and Fig. 4, an end elevation, showing a portion of the thill broken away.

Referring to the drawings-the numeral 1 in dicates the usual axle-clip, provided with the perforated arms 2, and 3 the usual securingbolt.

The numeral 4 indicates a securing-nut, which is provided with an upwardly extending arm, 5, to which is hinged a top-plate, 6, carrying a spring locking-latch, 7. The arm 5 of the securing-nut is recessed to i form a shoulder, 8, which rests upon one of the cliparms 2, and the free end of the hinged top plate is formed with a downwardly extending lug, 9, which rests upon the other clip-arm. Thus it will be seen that the hinged top-plate is firmly supported by the clip-arms. The

free end of the hinged top-plate is bifurcated or forked and the hooked-arm 10, of the locking-latch, passes downward and is held between the forked ends against lateral movement.

To remove the thills, all that is necessary is todisengage the arm 10 from the bolt-head,

which is accomplished by thrusting a flat, thin instrument between the head of the bolt and the arm of the latch, and by giving a twist to the instrument the said arm can be disengaged from the head of said bolt, leaving the bolt free to be unscrewed from the securingnut, when the thills can be detached. When it is desired to attach the thills, all that is required is to pass the bolt through the perforated clip-arms and thill-iron; screw the bolt into the securing-nut, and spring the arm of the locking latch into engagement with the bolt-head.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the axle-clip provided with the horizontally extending arms, and a headed securing-bolt, of a securing-nut provided with a vertical arm having ashoulder adapted to restupon one arm of said axleclip, a plate hinged to said vertical arm and provided with a downwardly extending projection adapted to rest upon the other arm of the axle-clip, and means for securing said plate to said axle-clip and the bolt against accidental displacement.

2. The combination, with the axle-clip and the headed securing-bolt, of a securing-nut provided with a vertical arm having a shoulder adapted to rest upon one arm of said clip, a plate hinged to said vertical arm and provided with a downwardly extending projection adapted to rest upon the other arm of the clip, and a spring-latch secured to the hinged plate and engaging the under side of the bolt head, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SPRINT.

Witnesses:

E. A. PAUL, J. R. NOTTINGHAM. 

